Palm Springs in Riverside County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Anti-Aircraft Searchlight
Model 1942-A
Photographed by Adam Margolis, September 14, 2022
1. Anti-Aircraft Searchlight Marker
WW II searchlights formed part of a system of aircraft detection linking (a) locator device, (b) searchlights, and (c) antiaircraft (AAA) guns. The locators Sent electronic information to the lights and guns, which in turn tracked the target in synch with each other. once a locator had "locked on" to an aerial target, the concept was for both lights and guns to be trained on the target (via the height and distance data received from the locator) so the target could be nearly simultaneously illuminated and then destroyed. Locators were first based on sound and heat detections, and ultimately radar became the preferred methods of target acquisition. Units were generally separate, but advances in radar technology late in the war saw the integration of radar into both searchlight and AAA gun designs.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • War, World II.
Location. 33° 49.968′ N, 116° 30.276′ W. Marker is in Palm Springs, California, in Riverside County. It can be reached from North Gene Autry Trail. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Palm Springs CA 92262, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Greater Los Angeles, in the Coachella Valley, and in the Peninsular Ranges. It is also in the American Southwest. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Distinguished Flying Cross Memorial (a few steps from this marker); Tuskegee Airmen (a few steps from this marker);
this page online
Photographed by Adam Margolis, September 14, 2022
2. Anti-Aircraft Searchlight and Marker
Photographed by Adam Margolis, September 14, 2022
3. Anti-Aircraft Searchlight
Photographed by Adam Margolis, September 14, 2022
4. Anti-Aircraft Searchlight
Credits. This page was last revised on July 3, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 18, 2022, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. This page has been viewed 383 times since then and 21 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 18, 2022, by Adam Margolis of Mission Viejo, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
